Cleveland FBI says ‘phantom hacker’ scam was the top scam of 2023 targeting majority senior citizens

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - During consumer protection week, Cleveland 19′s Gabby Hart highlighted the “phantom hacker” scam targeting older adults.

Greg Nelsen, Special Agent in Charge at the Cleveland FBI Field Office, explained the scam’s three phases:

• Phase One: The victim receives a call, text, or email claiming a hacker has infiltrated their computer and is threatening their bank accounts.
• Phase Two: The scammer, posing as tech support, gains the victim’s trust and convinces them to download remote access software, allowing access to the victim’s computer and financial accounts.
• Phase Three: An imposter posing as a bank representative convinces the victim to transfer their money to a “secure” account, often using scare tactics about a fictitious criminal.

Nelsen emphasized the importance of never sharing personal or financial information over the phone or email and urged vigilance against these tactics.

Jon Miller Steiger, director of the Federal Trade Commission’s East Central Region, echoed Nelsen’s warnings and advised consumers to take their time and not rush into any decisions when contacted about suspicious activity.

Both the FBI and FTC encourage anyone targeted by a scam, even if they haven’t lost money, to report it immediately.

Reporting scams helps authorities track down perpetrators and potentially recover lost funds.